Steering-post transmission mechanism



E. SCHMALLER.

STEERING POST TRANSMISSION MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED DEC- 12. 1921.

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Patented Aug. 22, 1922. i6

2; 4 Is Zljrifw j 2/0 1 film/u Ernst 5 chmaIIer www/wg B. wonnann, or

o RACINE, WISCONSIN.

STEERING-POST TBANSIVIISSION MECHANISM.

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Application filed December 12, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNST Soi-IMALLnR, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Racine, in the county of Racine and State at \"i isconsin, have invented certain new and use'tul improvements in Steering-Post Transmission liiechanism; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and enact description thereof.

My invention pertains to new and useful improvements in steering posttransmission mechanism for automobiles or other types or" vehicles.

Heretofore it has been customary in cer tain types of transmission to employ a pair of oppositely sliding blocks operated by a rotatable steering post provided with right and left hand screw threads which mesh with respective right and left hand threads at adj acent ends of the blocks. A serious objection to this structure resides in the fact that a very small space of contactis permitted between the post and blocks, which results in excessive wear between the two.

In other structures a single block surrounds the steering post, but'this is objectionable as it becomes necessary to talre apart the entire transmission in order to unscrew and remove the block. Furthermore in this type of transmission there is no means for taking up wear between the blogl: and post.

It is therefore the objectof .0. present invention to provide a structure which will overcome the disadvantages mentioned. and

it is more particularly the object to provn an arrangement wherein a maxiimnn contact is obtained between the post end. a single block at the same time permitting easy assembly or removal of the block when desired.

A further object resides in the provision of means for taking up wear between the block and steering post. it is also an object to substantially reduce the manufacturing cost of devices of this character.

With the foregoing and other object and advantages in view the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts which, will be hereafter more particularly described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the housing or casing in which the movable parts of the device are Specification of Letters Patent. Pfltegnltgdl Lyme; 22- 1922,,

Serial No. 521,764.

disposed, said. section being taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail elevational view of the side closure for the housing or casing.

Referring more particularly to the several figures of the drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate like parts the numeral 1 denotes a steering post surrounded by the usual casing and having its lower end enclosed in a substantially rectangular housing or casing 2. The housing 2 is provided with a side plate 3 forming a closure therefor, the same being removable so that access may be obtained to the interior of the housing.

That portion of the steering post 1 which is disposed within the housing 2 is provided with screw threads 1-, adapted to mesh with screw threads formed in the longitudinal channel of the block 5, the latter being disposed within the casing and surrounding approximately one-half the circumference of the steering post 1.

As a result of this arrangement the'rotation of" the post 1 will cause the block to slide longitudinally. The casing 2 may be secured in any suitable manner to the frame ot the vehicle on which it is mounted. The lower end of the steering post is rotatably mounted within the bearings 6 and 7 formed in the ends of the casing 2-. The bearing 7 has an opening considerably larger than the bearing '6, to allow the end of the post with the screw threads 41 to be removed therethrough. The post 1 is provided with an enlarged bearing portion 8 and is adapted to cooperate w th the bearing 7, while surrounding the post and secured thereto in any suitable manner adjacent the enlarged portion 8, is a collar 9 which works against a pair o't washers 10 for the purpose of talring the end thrust of the steering post. In order to prevent longitudinal movement of the post within the casing a nut 11 is threaded into the end of the bearing 7, which nut is provided with a recess adapted to receive and support the steering post casing 12.

The longitudinal movement out the block 5 is utilized to operate a rock shaft 13 journalled in the bearing 1 1 projecting from the side plate 8, the outer end of said shaft having mounted thereon a depending arm 15, which arm is connected to a steering link, not shown. The inner end oi the rock shaft 13 is provided with an arm 16 from which projects a stud 17 for disposition in a bearing block 18, the latter. being positioned in:

tially rectangular and the slot iiiwhich it isdisposed is approximately the same width; It is obvious that when the is rotated, movement will be transmitted to the block 5, because of the screw thread'conmotion, and in turn to the. rock shaft 13, which will oscillate the arm 15 in the direction for steering; the vehicle.

For the purpose of guiding the block. 5 the cover 3 is provided with a lateral extension 20 having a depending, tongue 21 adapted to project into the groove formed longitudinally intheiblock 5. lniorder to permit the block, 5' to beurged into connection with thesteering post and to con1- pensatc vfor wear between, these two members the cover 3 is made adjustable with relation to 1 the casing 2,. in which the steers ing postis journalled-L. This adjustment is obtained by means of cover and the bolts 24 for securing the same to the. casing. with a plurality of, set screws. 25 which en.- gage the lateral extension20 andlook the cover- 3 in its adjusted position. the foregoing it will be seenathat as wear occurs betweenthe block.5 and steering post the same may be compensated to? by loosening the bolts 24:. and,turningfdown-on the set screws 25' until thedesired adjustment is obtained when the cover is locked or secured to the casing by tightening up the bolts 24. It willxfu-rther be: noted. that this construction permitseasy {ISSGTl'llOli s; or dismantling of the mechanism inasmuch as the same is.- accomplished'. by loosening the set' screws 25 and removing th bolts 24,- wh'ich; permits the cover, 3 to be ra-isedrsufficiently until the tongue 2l-elears the groove 22' atwhich point the cover together with the rockshaft is free-to be removed. The block 5 which only partially surrounds the, post 1 may thenbe removedw-ithout necessitating removalv of the steering; post.

I'claim as my invention;: .1. A steering gear transmission mechanism comprising a steering post, a. block slida'ble on said post, a; casingsurrounding,

' said cover steering post 1.

the slots 23 iii-the The'casing 3 isprovided saidblock andlpost, said-casing being opened at. one-side, and a cover for said opening, being adjustable with relation to the casing-and serving as a guide for the block whereby wear between the block and steering-post may be takenup.

2. A steering gear transmission mechanism comprising va steering post, a block slidable on said post, a casing surrounding said block and post, said casing being open at one side, and. acover for said opening,

said cover being adjustable with relation to the casing and provided with a lateralextension projecting intothe casing and adaptedto guide the block. v

3. A steering gear transmission mechar nism comprising a steering post,. a block slidable on said post and provided with a longitudinal, groove, a casing surroundingsaid block and steering post, said casing being open at one side, and a cover for said opening, said coverbeing adjustable with relation to the casingand providcdwitha tongue adapted to project into said groove to guide the'block.

4c. A steering gear transmission 1116Cl12L- nism comprisinga steering post, a block slidable on said post, acasing surrounding said block and post, said casing being open at one sideand a cover for said open ing, said co verbeing provided with a guide for said bloclcandihavinga slotted connection with the casing to permit its adjustment with relationthereto.

5. A steering gear v transmission mechanism comprising asteerihg post, a block slidable on saidpost and provided with a longitudinal groove, a casing surrounding said post said casing being open at one side, a. cover foi said opening saidrcover being provided with a lateral extension having a depending tongue adapted to project in said groove to guide the block and means for adjusting the cover with relation, to the casing.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing Iv have hereunto set my hand at Racine, in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin.

ERNST SGHMALLER. 

